Support Tougher Animal Cruelty Laws in Canada

Liberal M-P Mark Holland is reintroducing a bill, C-229, that would close loopholes in Canada’s Criminal Code that make it it difficult to get convictions for cases of animal abuse.

“Provisions of the Criminal Code dealing with animal cruelty have changed very little since 1892 and they are extremely antiquated. This has often made it difficult to obtain convictions against animal abusers, and when convictions are obtained, the penalties are often too light. These laws were also written at a time when animals were protected by virtue of being property,” states Mark Holland’s website.

Previous bills to update animal cruelty laws have been brought forward over the past few years, but have never been voted on or made into laws.

“Time for change is now!” said Holland at a recent rally. “The vast majority of Canadians, like you, want the loopholes in our laws closed so that known animal abusers face justice after committing egregious acts of cruelty — the government needs to act now.”

A recent survey conducted by the WSPA shows that across demographics 95 percent of Canadians agree that “animal pain and suffering should be reduced as much as possible” whether they’re pets, farm animals or wildlife.

The study also found that “Almost three quarters of Canadians would recognize that animals are more than just property by moving animal cruelty crimes out of the Crimes Against Property section of Canada’s Criminal code and still more Canadians (84%) would make it a more serious offense to brutally and viciously kill an animal.”

For more information on how to support C-229 and petition information visit Mark Holland’s website. Canadian residents can find a paper petition here.

Those of you who live outside of Canada can show your support by signing this petition.

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissy575/

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227 comments

To the Canadian government - listen to your citizens. 95 percent of Canadians agree that animal pain and suffering should be reduced as much as possible whether theyre pets, farm animals or wildlife".